Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29

Wow...it almost seems surreal that the finalists have been chosen. I thought this day would never come! Congratulations everyone!

Aw, Martin. You do KD proud.

Oh, no.

That is awful.

R.I.P., K.D.

And then there was this on the next page. Damn, man. Is that when you realized it?

Yes. Exactly then. It was a sobering moment.

Oh, no.

That is awful.

R.I.P., K.D.

And then there was this on the next page. Damn, man. Is that when you realized it?

Yes. Exactly then. It was a sobering moment.

To be put in the "finalist for sure pile" by KD before she died is an honor. You were meant to be there.

Congrats, you all!

On the plus side, I believe my teasing post led to the first appearance of the marshmallow shooter, which has certainly done a lot for the mood around here!

And then the s'mores shooter.

And the automatic marshmallow shooter.

And the explanation of s'mores.

And graham crackers.

And their purported effect on libido.

And...

Thanks, Thomas!

Congrats, guys! Good luck on the first 3 places. How many of us on here is that, 5? 6? I wonder how many will place...

Thanks, Beez! It's still possible for all 3 winners to be non-forumites. I'm sure Hazlett could add some mathematical rigor to that statement.

Wow...it almost seems surreal that the finalists have been chosen. I thought this day would never come! Congratulations everyone!

I know me too! I was beginning to wonder if everyone's jokes would come true and we would be held in suspension forever!

Congratulations everyone and good luck!

Thanks, Nick!

I have to say how much all this energy and excitement has got me PUMPED to write more. I want to be a part of the fun, I say! Clearly I must "Write, write, write(tm)!"

Here's to harnessing the energy and putting it where it will be of the most value. On the page.

And, again, because I'm so excited, "WOO!"

Thanks everyone!

I have to say how much all this energy and excitement has got me PUMPED to write more. I want to be a part of the fun, I say! Clearly I must "Write, write, write(tm)!"

Here's to harnessing the energy and putting it where it will be of the most value. On the page.

And, again, because I'm so excited, "WOO!"

I agree Rebecca! I wrote the climax of my Q3 story while feeding off the energy of the forum this last week. So I agree!

Love your "write, write, write(tm)"

Oh my gosh, look what happens, I turn my back for an afternoon and the floodgates have opened.
Congratulations to all the finalists, especially our old friends Marina, Martin and Tina! I'm so pleased for you guys.

Of course, I've known about Martin for some time. That's got to be one hell of a story to have been picked out so early on I say! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. And thank you again, Martin, for your kind words about my story!

And Marina, surely this time you have to win. You're undoubtedly going to go far woman. I still haven't read anything you've written, I've really got to fix that.

And Tina, I'm so pleased to see you here! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. And what a lovely 1000th post. You are always so supportive and generous to us all. Of me you say I critiqued one of your stories a long time ago now. It must have been, as apart from a couple of Martin's I haven't critiqued anyone for ages. Anyway I'm genuinely flattered by your comment about my editing ability.

Of course, three well-known forumites, three winning spots, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all. <img src="

I'm baaaaaaack... And I've brought some friends!

FIRST QUARTER FINALISTS

Jeremy Brink from Texas
Holly Heisey from Arizona
Marina J. Lostetter from Arkansas
Sean Monaghan from Manawatu, New Zealand
Tina Smith from California
Martin Shoemaker from Michigan
Stephen Sottong from California
Chris Stamp of Perthshire, United Kingdom

Congratulations to my fellow Finalists! And especially Jeremy, Holly, Marina, and Tina!

Congratulations. I'm so proud of all of you.

Thanks, Elinor! And thanks, Isto!

Oh my gosh, look what happens, I turn my back for an afternoon and the floodgates have opened.
Congratulations to all the finalists, especially our old friends Marina, Martin and Tina! I'm so pleased for you guys.

Of course, I've known about Martin for some time. That's got to be one hell of a story to have been picked out so early on I say! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. And thank you again, Martin, for your kind words about my story!

And Marina, surely this time you have to win. You're undoubtedly going to go far woman. I still haven't read anything you've written, I've really got to fix that.

And Tina, I'm so pleased to see you here! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. And what a lovely 1000th post. You are always so supportive and generous to us all. Of me you say I critiqued one of your stories a long time ago now. It must have been, as apart from a couple of Martin's I haven't critiqued anyone for ages. Anyway I'm genuinely flattered by your comment about my editing ability.

Of course, three well-known forumites, three winning spots, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all. <img src="

Let me jog your memory. I'd sent you a PM about a year ago on the first half of my Q4 story (that was a rejection). I begged, begged you to come check out my story on OWW and leave a comment only if you had the time. I think I filled out a resume of my writing credentials so you'd know I wasn't a lost cause. You said...hmm I'm busy. I'll see. You wrote back after reading my OWW profile and said "Hey, you've trained Guide Dogs?" and about an hour later I had a critique...it was the mutual dog love, wasn't it? You said I needed to work on setting, but I had character, dialogue, and conflict/tension down (boiling it down, you pointed out some wording problems that I was able to take a look at and fix later in the story too and helped me start getting smoother sentences and I did some practice on that as well). And so I set off to work on that...in my next story, which was Q1 and a finalist

Thanks EVERYONE for the nice congrats. I was afraid I'd get pitchforked out of here, being a three time contest reject.

Let this be a lesson to all of you with rejections. Your very next story could be the one, so don't let it own you!

Aw, thanks Elinor!

You too, Isto.

Oh my gosh, look what happens, I turn my back for an afternoon and the floodgates have opened.
Congratulations to all the finalists, especially our old friends Marina, Martin and Tina! I'm so pleased for you guys.

Of course, I've known about Martin for some time. That's got to be one hell of a story to have been picked out so early on I say! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. And thank you again, Martin, for your kind words about my story!

And Marina, surely this time you have to win. You're undoubtedly going to go far woman. I still haven't read anything you've written, I've really got to fix that.

And Tina, I'm so pleased to see you here! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. And what a lovely 1000th post. You are always so supportive and generous to us all. Of me you say I critiqued one of your stories a long time ago now. It must have been, as apart from a couple of Martin's I haven't critiqued anyone for ages. Anyway I'm genuinely flattered by your comment about my editing ability.

Of course, three well-known forumites, three winning spots, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all. <img src="

Let me jog your memory. I'd sent you a PM about a year ago on the first half of my Q4 story (that was a rejection). I begged, begged you to come check out my story on OWW and leave a comment only if you had the time. I think I filled out a resume of my writing credentials so you'd know I wasn't a lost cause. You said...hmm I'm busy. I'll see. You wrote back after reading my OWW profile and said "Hey, you've trained Guide Dogs?" and about an hour later I had a critique...it was the mutual dog love, wasn't it? You said I needed to work on setting, but I had character, dialogue, and conflict/tension down (boiling it down, you pointed out some wording problems that I was able to take a look at and fix later in the story too and helped me start getting smoother sentences and I did some practice on that as well). And so I set off to work on that...in my next story, which was Q1 and a finalist

Lol, I think I remember now. I asked you to PM me (so you could tell me your OWW name privately to preserve anonymity if you wished) but I didn't make the reason clear and you thought I was asking for a CV or something if I remember rightly. Maybe that's something the Gator would do though, she has a pretty high opinion of herself. She would probably start start charging for her editorial services.

I hope we were of some help anyway!

Yes, I was a bit nervous about swimming so close to the gator!

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! And to everyone else, as well. Bravo! (Anyone else notice how if you take the first three letters of Martin's name, and connect them to the last three of Tina's name, you get Marina? Eerie! There's only one explanation: they must each be a single incarnation or unit within a larger interstellar android hivemind. Well played, Martinamarina, well played.)

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! And to everyone else, as well. Bravo! (Anyone else notice how if you take the first three letters of Martin's name, and connect them to the last three of Tina's name, you get Marina? Eerie! There's only one explanation: they must each be a single incarnation or unit within a larger interstellar android hivemind. Well played, Martinamarina, well played.)

~~~~Freeeaaakkyyy!~~~~~

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! And to everyone else, as well. Bravo! (Anyone else notice how if you take the first three letters of Martin's name, and connect them to the last three of Tina's name, you get Marina? Eerie! There's only one explanation: they must each be a single incarnation or unit within a larger interstellar android hivemind. Well played, Martinamarina, well played.)

If they all win, it will be even more compelling evidence that must be disproven.

Also did anyone else notice that our new member and Finalist, Holly, is also a talented illustrator? Well, if Holly comes back on she can tell us if she's been submitting to the illustration side...

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! And to everyone else, as well. Bravo! (Anyone else notice how if you take the first three letters of Martin's name, and connect them to the last three of Tina's name, you get Marina? Eerie! There's only one explanation: they must each be a single incarnation or unit within a larger interstellar android hivemind. Well played, Martinamarina, well played.)

I think I've entered the Twilight Zone.

No you haven't, you've just stepped in the swamp, stupid human.

Ew, yuck, must be time I went to bed.

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! And to everyone else, as well. Bravo! (Anyone else notice how if you take the first three letters of Martin's name, and connect them to the last three of Tina's name, you get Marina? Eerie! There's only one explanation: they must each be a single incarnation or unit within a larger interstellar android hivemind. Well played, Martinamarina, well played.)

Lol, wow. Spooooky.

Congratulations, guys!!!

Congratulations, Martin, Tina, and Marina! You too, Holly and Jeremy! And the other ones I don't know!

I guess everyone had known Martin was a finalist for ages. Marina also made it obvious some time ago, but Tina fooled us completely. Just for a little while, of course, since she didn't know herself until a while ago.
Martin, I suppose you were sworn to secrecy, since you were the first one to know. Marina, you too? Tina probably not, since she shared the call with Holly, but it made for a nice surprise to wait for the official announcement.

So the rest of you holds and LAMPS haven't heard anything yet? I hope you all make semis!
Incredible contest, to announce finalists before semi-finalists, by the way!

So Martin, you were a finalist even before David Farland took over? That's really awsome, man!

Kary, you should change your name to Martina. Covers ALL possibilities.

Also did anyone else notice that our new member and Finalist, Holly, is also a talented illustrator? Well, if Holly comes back on she can tell us if she's been submitting to the illustration side...

And if not... WHY NOT?!?!?